EDITORIALS:
BOAT LAUNCHING RAMP
If someone were to ask us what the
biggest recent improvement in the mat
ter of attracting visitors to the South
port area we would not hesitate to
nominate the new boat launching ramp
located at the foot of Howe Street.
Two incidents that occured last week
have helped convince us that this is
true.
Over in Whiteville, sixty miles away,
an appreciative boat owner wanted to
know who he could write and thank
for the launching ramp. He said that he
had used it, thought it was fine and
plans to use it many more times this
sum mer.
A man driving an automobile with a
trailer hitched on behind asked a
Southport citizen if there was any place
around here where a fellow could
launch his boat. “I have come all the
up from Cherry Grove, S. C., looking
for a place where I could get my boat
in the water and get it out again,” he
declared. He was directed to the facility
on the waterfront here in Southport,
---and the chances are that the next time
he gets ready to go to the coast on a
vacation Southport will be his first ob
jective.
We think that you will see these illus
trations repeated many times during
tlie coming months. As we have said
before, boating has been the fastest
growing sport in tlie United States dur
ing the past few years. But a boat is no
good unless you have some place to use
it, and for the average individual this
means not only a body of water upon
which to float it, but facilities for
launching and retrieving as well.
The nice thing about putting a boat
in the water at Southport is that when
you do you have a multiple choice of
some of the best inside fishing to be
found along the coast. There is the
river, the inland waterway, the bay and
numerous creeks. Only in the roughest
kind of weather is it impossible to use
your boat in some of these waterways.
These are some of the reasons why
we think that this new facility on the
Southport waterfront will prove highly
popular with boat owners from all parts
of the State.
CHARTER BOATMEN'S ASSOCIATION
The Southport Charter Boatmen’s As
sociation may not be a perfect organiza
tion, but it is a step in the right direc
tion as the men in the business attempt
to promote sports fishing in this area.
Funds from regular membership dues
and from associate members are used
for promotional advertising; and mem
bers ol the association help each other
by placing extra parties with local
boatmen. The theory behind the plan
is good, and most of the practices that
have been carried out thus far appear
to be sound.
there are eighteen sports fishing
boats operating from Southport now,
and this is big business for a commun
ity this size. Not only do the men who
own and operate the boats prosper
when business is Rood, but the effects
reach over to motel operators, restau
rant operators, service stations, stores
and other places of business.
The mere existance of the Charter
Boatman’s Association does not mean
that the party boat skippers comprise
one bi>r, happy family—as much as that
is to be desired ; but it does mean that
they are banded together to pool their
best interests in a common effort to
promote Southport as a sports fishing
center. They deserve recognition, not
only for the good .job that they do in
their service to fishing parties, but for
their efforts to attract more visitors
and more business to this town.
More power to these men and to
their organization.
CASE
FARM
-IMPLEMENTS
AND A
t New CASE Tractor
MODS.
"VAJ
Here’s 24 inches of under-clearance for 1-row
cultivation of tobacco and other tall, bushy,
and bedded crops . . , plenty of eager power
to pull two 14-inch plows. Has live hydraulic
control and Eagle Hitch for 1-minute hook-up
to wide choice of rear-mounted implements.
Engine offset to left, gives driver clear view of
tow and cultivator shovels. One-row cultivator
is quick and easy to put on. Come in for a
personal demonstration.
MODERN TRACTOR SERVICE and PARTS DEPARTMENT
We Trade Mules For Tractors and
Farm Equipment. See Us For Your Needs
SEE US FOR ALL YOUR FARM MACHINERY NEEDS
S. L. FULLER & CO.
Your Case Farm Machinery Dealer
W h i t e v i 11 e
ROVING REPORTER
Continued From Page One
tion, asking that we secure him
a house at the beach, large
enough to accommodate 6 adults
and one baby. The lease, if we
could secure one, to run from
July 8th to September 1st. Like
wise. during the week, have come
direct inquiries from Greensboro,
Charlotte, Philadelphia, Pa., and
Tonewanda, N. Y., all of a like
nature as the one from Vene
zuela all interested in securing
homes at the beaches.
Although many of them make
a regular habit of keeping their
grass and flowers watered during
dry weather, practically everybody
was busy at such a task Friday
afternoon. They had all lost hope
of rain anytime soon. Seeing Mrs.
Maxine Fulcher at this task, we
remarked in passing that she was
inviting it to rain that night or
the next morning. Next morning
at 4 a. m. it began to rain. Still
raining at 7 when Sam Bennett
came by the office with an invita
tion to ride over to the beach.
Still raining when we got there
and when we left. Still raining
at noon that day and the most
we thought of was the good that
the rains were doing to our farm
er friends all over the county.
Best soaking, general rain Bruns
wick has had in a long time.
With everybody too busy, with
memories of how the leading
spirits had to work day and
night in sweltering heat to put
on last year’s 4th of July cele
bration, it now appears to have
been decided to take a rest in
Southport this year. Tire commit
tee says that they will not have
a 4th of July. Southport is so
close to the beaches and most
folks want to go to the beaches
and have a bit of relaxation in
stead of having to perform all of
the work that is attendant on
putting on a celebration. Our un
derstanding is that this year the
folks just intend to have a street
square dance on Saturday night
proceeding the 4th and another
dance on the night of the 4th.
Tliere have been and still are a
lot of confusing claims regarding
the cost of Sunny Point construc
tion. Reports lead the public to
believe that the cost was any
where between $22,000,000 and
$24,000,000. Our understanding
from the start of things has been
that the first appropriation by
Congi ess was in the sum of $1,
400,000. This went through the
Savannah Real Estate Board for
purchasing the big land area, with
part going to the Army Engineers
for the cost of designing the in
stallation, a work that was done
under contract. Following the first
appropriation there was another
nil i ml. for mu
total initial cost run to 24 million
dollars. It is assumed that further
funds for operation costs are in
the fiscal budget and this is
thought to be a large sum. In
addition there was approximately1
two and a half million asked for
recently for the purchase of ad
ditional land and various con
struction. The public won’t miss
| things far if it places the con
i struction costs at 24 million. Op
erating costs will be another mat
ter.
Without knowing that he was
paying a good tribute to the pow
ers of advertising, Sam Bennett
told us Friday morning of the sale
that morning of two building lots
to citizens of Union County. Sam,
along with G. V. Barbee, is en
gaged in handling the sale of
j Yaupon Village building lots. The
j two of them have been making
! things hum and both have been
steadily advertising in this paper.
Well, both of the Union County
men who had bong it lots that
morning were regulf ' subscribers
to this paper, and yaupon Beach
is so new that we have a good
suspicion that the; had never
heard of the plat: until they
read about it in ths paper.
With a permanent military an
gle now established in the South
port area, the onh possible way
of ever realizing t) e dream of an
all-Coastal Highway is to have
it come down 130 to Orton, follow
the by-pass aroun 1 Sunny Point
and hit the cost t Long Beach.
Southport itself is out of the pic
ture unless connexions are made
north of town. Th -s connection al
ready exists, lack ig improvement
and designation, both of which
will come in tir e. The Coastal
Highway, conne< ing with high
way No. 130 at the Long Beach
intersection, core l proceed down
the coast through Long Beach,
Holden Beach, C lonial Beach and
then onward though Ocean Isle.
We believe that eventually the
Coastal Highway will follow the
above described route ,the nearest
possible route to the coast.
Our good friend, Steve Wall of
the Army Engineers, slipped off
suddenly and unexpectedly, even
to himself, the past week for a
cruise to Bermuda. He writes us
that Bermuda is a pretty place
and a good place for a fellow
who does not like to work very
much. He mentions that the past
winter the temperature hit a re
cord low of 42 degrees. We think
that this information would have
been more up to date if he had
advised the high at which it is
hitting now. Returning to the of
fice in Wilmington this week,
Steve found his desk littered with
work awaiting him, just like any
other fellow who goes on a va
cation.
Tile Savannah Real Estate
Board has not yet received any
definite instructions about the
new land deal down the Cape
Fear and involving lands in both
Brunswick and New Hanover
counties. However ,it is said that
it is believed that something will
tie forthcoming soon. The land in
volved comprises a Safety Zone
area to Sunny Point. With their
very definite and enact safety
requirements in regard to every
thing in connection with Sunny
Point, it is believed that the new
land requirements are a must that
will be strictly followed out.
The importance of the truck in
transportation is receiving a lot
of recognition in the government’s
transportation facilities now being
built just above Southport. There
are parking and loading facilities
for approximately 600 truck
trailers. This does not include the
nearly a mile and a half of 22
foot truck lane running the length
id -the dock in addition to the
aTffon^KPWi 'tKenueiiiu^mw
being built there are rumors of
more yards to come and that may
mean more roads to reach them.
The roads and parking places are
not shoddy, temporary jobs. All
have approximately 8-inches of
rock base that is covered with
three and four inches of asphalt.
The truck facilities at the in
stallation are assurance that there
will be more and more substantial
roads running in and out of
Brunswick county.
The weather reports got things
completely wrong Saturday. At
9:30 small craft warnings went
up and winds 25 to 35 miles per
hour were forecast for the after
noon. In contrast to this report
the afternoon saw no winds at all
and the Cape Fear was as calm
and placid as it ever gets to be.
However, in contrast to the Sat
urday afternoon calmness, Friday
afternoon brought some very stiff
nds and the river got decidedly
rough. So rough that a small out
rm keep^
.CARS HEALTHY.
\B— »
PROPER LUBRICATION
IS THE LIFE OF YOUP AUTOMOBILE !
Have your car greased regularly, and never fail to
change your Oil on Regular Schedule.
For Dependable Economical
Service Try - - -
BOB'S ESSO SERVICE-CENTER
R. II i BOB) CONSTA TE, Proprietor
PHONE 4821
>OUTHPORT, N. C.
Not Exactly Netos
Charlie Splawn. Southport boy, attended Boy’s
State last week at Chapel Hill. He fell in love
with the UNC campus, and hopes to be able to
spend his college days there. He says that one
day they had Coach George Barclay for a speak
er and that the Carolina football coach used
James Varnum as an example of what a boy
can do if he really wants to. Coach Barclay told
the students at Boy's State that they will hear
a lot about the former Shallotte football player
next fall, and he praised the Brunswick county
boy not only for his football ability, but as a
fine all-round student ... A Rock Hill, S. C.,
fishing party wrill long remember Southport and
Bill Wells because of an incident that occurred
here Monday. The Southport man found a wallet
that was well stocked with cash and checks. He
couldn't locate the owners, but left word around
various places and with Chief of Police Jack
Hickman. A short time later the anxious owner
showed up, and when Wells returned his billfold
to him he was informed that it contained more
than $500 in cash ,not to mention checks and
other valuables.
Folks over in Whiteville will be glad to learn
that the Standard Oil dock has been rebuilt, and
while its principal purpose is for the use of the
crews from the boats of the Brunswick Naviga
tion Co., the fast remains that it will again pro
vide some desirable dock fishing . . . Some of
the local quail hunters are concerned over the
effect of week end rains upon newly hatched
quail . . . Stacy Wells, Leland high school ath
lete, is playing with the Wilmington American
Legion baseball team.
Speaking of baseball, Brunswick has two teams
in the Cape Fear League and business appears to
be on the up-grade for both of them. Manager
Earl Bellamy has his Shallotte nine playing
steady ball now that he has the services of a num
ber of high school and college players. The Maco
team draws most of its talent from Leland, with
three Southport men also on the squad . . . We
do not know much about "Green Fire”, the Sun
day-Monday attraction at the Amuzu in South
port, but beautiful Grace Kelly is the star, and
that's good enough to recommend it to us.
This is June ?2, longest day in the year and
officially the first day of summer. Up to this
point it has been the coolest June we have ever
seen . . . When Johnnie Simmons came home
from Florida last week he brought a fresh stock
of sea shells for his summer side-line business . . .
We never saw such high tides as we have had in
recent months, and they have been making up
both at the time of the new moon and of the
full moon. The result has been rough on the
sand breakwater on the beaches . . . Bobby Spen
cer, one of the best all-round athletes ever de
veloped at Southport high school, is out of serv
ice and is now demonstrating that tennis is an
other sport at which he is quite adept . . . We
hear that one result of the fashion show here last
week was to step up sales from Southport stores.
Maybe there were others present who, like us,
were surprised to learn just how many pretty
clothes you can buy right here in town.
board boat returning- from Bat
tery Island with 4 men aboard
capsized in the channel. All had
lifebelts and all were rescued
without difficulty.
A lot of wrecks, laid to slippery
roads, smooth tires and sometimes
to speeding, occurred in Bruns
wick over the week end. Only
two men .both Marines, were hos
pitalized here with slight injuries.
Monday highway patrolmen were
expressing surprise at so many
wrecks, none killed and few in
jured. It was a couple of those
very rare days when motorists
were just plain lucky or else
there may be some truth in the
old saying that Providence takes
care of fools and drunks.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Continued From Page One
'disability freeze,” which protects
future benefit rights of former
workers who have become totally
disabled.
Mr. Avera pointed out that nin
out of ten mothers and childrei
are now protected by old-age am
survivors insurance in case of th
j death of the family breadwinne
in 11 ie entire countr
father
benefit payments.
In Brunswick County at t
and hf k16 ,year’ 63 a*erl wi'
husbands were receiving $
438.00 per month as dcpendei
of retired workers, and 22 as
moon and Palents recei*
^19.00 3S survivin£ clependei
ot deceased workers.
„J],ese ,ocal figures for old-a
reflectUV1V01S insurance Paymer
^effect a national trend, IV
Avera pointed out. In the coun
try as a whole, there were 6,886,
480 people receiving benefit pay
ments at the end of 1954—nearly
a million more than in December
1953.
Mr. Avera stressed the import
ance of these benefits as the
greatest or the only source of in
come to many of the families who
received them. “Two out of three
people now reaching age 65 can
qualify for old-age and survivors
insurance benefits,” he said, “and
nine out of ten mothers and chil
dren in the country are assured
of survivors benefits in case of
the death of the family breadwin
ner.”
Money to pay these benefits
comes from the oJd-Agc and Sur
vivors Insurance Trust Fund,
which is built up from social
security tax contributions of
workers their employers, and self
employed people.
PORTS AUTHORITY
to
-
Continued From Fage One
continue its big development
trend.”
Thompson mentioned that tha
entire body of State Ports Auth
ority hopes to come here and go
for an inspection of the terminals
on July 21st or 22nd, at which
time they are scheduled to hold a
meeting in Wilmington. Chairman
Edwin Pate of the Board has
several times expressed such a
wish.
BUSY SESSION
Continued From Page One
Aulty Hezikiah Porter, reckless
operation, fined 515 and costs.
Wiley Franklin Goins, overload
ing fined $10 and costs.
Horace Clifton Sutton, operat
ing unmarked vehicle, fined $10
and costs.
Christina Elizabeth Smith,
speeding, no operator’s license,
fined $25 and costs.
Frances W. Fletcher ,no opera
tor’s license, speeding (75-mph)
fined $40 and costs.
Corbett Simmons, possession,
drunk driving, fined $100 and
costs.
-Service Typewriter Company
DON J. BATDORFF, Sales Representative
Royal Typewriters
Sales — Service — Rentals — Supplies
(Electric Models In Stock)
VICTOR ADDING MACHINES
608 S. 17th Street Wilmington, N. C.
PHONE 7860—(or 4021 Evenings)
It takes extra p-o-w-e-r to
move this mighty Diesel
faster . . .
And these days your Savin9s need more p-o-w-e-r —more dividends
I you but.d a reserve against emergencies more quickly. Drop
in and discuss your savings program — soon.
ALL ACCOUNTS INSURED UP TO $10,000 BY AN AGENCY
OF the federal government.
CURRENT DIVIDEND RATE 3%
Southport Building & Loan Assn.
w. P. JORGENSEN, Secy.,-Treas.
SOUTHPORT, N. C.
it navis tn save...
1 v v uihere saving pay®